Dombivli factory blast: Owner remanded in police custody till May 29

A court in Maharashtra's Thane district on Saturday remanded in police custody till May 29 the owner of the chemical factory in Dombivli where an explosion killed nine persons and injured more than 60. The accused, Malay Mehta (38), owner of Amudan Chemicals, was produced before the magistrate court in Kalyan, a spokesperson of the Thane city police said. The police sought Mehta's custody for 14 days and informed the court that they had to visit the factory site and find out if more persons were involved in the crime, he said. The extent of damage because of the explosion was enormous, and the police wanted to examine the role of many in the incident, the official said. Mehta's lawyer argued that the company had all the requisite permissions and followed all regulations. There was also an intervener in the matter who supported the police plea for custody and interrogations. After hearing all the counsels, the magistrate remanded the accused in police custody till May 29, the offi